Over 11 000 Lanterns Released for Kupala Night

Poznan's unique celebrations on the shortest night of the year have made headlines across the globe this year, as the city attempted to beat the world record of lanterns released into the sky simultaneously.

Midsummer celebrations with pagan roots, also called Wianki, remain popular across Poland. However, while many towns celebrate with live music or by laying wreaths in the river, Poznan decided to do something a little different.

Lighting paper lanterns has been a tradition in Poznan probably as long as the city has existed. This year, the city attempted to break the world record by releasing over 11 000 lanterns on 21 June, in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record, currently held by Indonesia. A video of the lantern release on YouTube shows the spectacular display, and is well worth checking out!